'I am sorry to all...': Sandeep Lamichhane shares emotional post after denied US visa ahead of T20 World Cup

'I am sorry to all...': Sandeep Lamichhane shares emotional post after denied US visa ahead of T20 World Cup

NEW DELHI: Nepal's star cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane announced on Wednesday that the US embassy had denied him a visa for the upcoming T20 World Cup, where he hoped to make a comeback following his acquittal in a rape case.

This denial marks a significant setback for Lamichhane, the only Nepalese cricketer to have played in the IPL. He was arrested in September 2022 on allegations of raping an 18-year-old girl, later released on bail, and remained suspended from domestic and international cricket.

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Just a week ago, the 23-year-old leg-spinner was acquitted by an appeals court, prompting the ICC to allow the Nepal cricket board to add him to the World Cup squad.

"The @USEmbassyNepal did it again, just like in 2019, denying my visa for the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. Unfortunate. I am sorry to all the well-wishers of Nepal Cricket," Lamichhane posted on X, referencing a previous visa denial in 2019 when he aimed to compete in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Nepal, gearing up for their second T20 World Cup, are placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands. In Lamichhane's absence, the team has been led by batting all-rounder Rohit Paudel.

Cricket Association of Nepal president Chatur Bahadur Chand recently mentioned that they were looking to add Lamichhane to the World Cup squad.

In his career, Lamichhane has taken 112 wickets in 51 ODIs and is close to achieving the 100-wicket milestone in T20 internationals, having taken 98 wickets in 52 T20Is.

(Inputs from PTI)

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